Reports: Kaepernick to start ahead of Smith today

Colin Kaepernick indeed will make his second consecutive start when the 49ers play Sunday against the host New Orleans Saints, according to reports Sunday morning by the Sacramento Bee and ESPN.

Sports Illustrated first reported Wednesday night that Kaepernick will start ahead of Alex Smith, a report that coach Jim Harbaugh described Friday as “not factual.”

No word yet on whether Smith will be active as a potential backup.

Kaepernick’s first career start produced a 32-7 rout of the Chicago Bears on Monday night. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four carries for 12 yards.

On the season, Kaepernick is 32 of 49 for 449 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions, six sacks, one lost fumble and a 108.3 passer rating. He has 25 carries for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

The 49ers have lost their past four regular-season games in New Orleans since 2002, getting outscored 130-81 in the process with four different starting quarterbacks.

The most recent visit may not have counted in the standings and it wasn’t a harbinger of impending doom … but the 49ers got clocked 24-3 in last year’s exhibition opener.

“Bad memories,” Kaepernick recalled of his first (exhibition) game in a 49ers uniform. “That was kind of an all-out fest when we played them last time. So, hopefully we go out and have a better performance this time around.”

After Alex Smith went 2-of-7 for 10 yards and got sacked twice against a blitz-heavy Saints attack, Kaepernick came in and was 9 of 19 for 117 yards with four sacks and two interceptions. Kaepernick also ran six times for 47 yards.

Kaepernick will try to doing what neither Smith, J.T. O’Sullivan, Ken Dorsey nor Jeff Garcia could do in the 49ers’ past four visits to New Orleans: win.

– In 2002: Garcia was 23 of 39 for 275 yards with a touchdown and interception in a 35-27 defeat. In that game, a drunk fan came onto the field and actually entered the 49ers huddle looking to get an autograph.

– In 2004: Dorsey filled in for an injured Tim Rattay and was 18 of 32 for 205 yards with an interception and two sacks in a 30-27 loss. It was the second of 14 defeats that season.

– In 2006: Smith completed 50 percent of his passes (14 of 28) for 171 yards with a touchdown, three interceptions and four sacks in a 34-10 rout.

– In 2008: After a 2-1 start, the 49ers launched a six-game losing streak with a 31-17 loss in New Orleans. O’Sullivan was 18 of 36 for 257 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions and six sacks.

Overall, the 49ers are 19-11 against the Saints at the Superdome, including a 10-3 mark during their Super Bowl-winning era (1981-94). They did, however, win their fourth Super Bowl championship at the Superdome, a 55-10 rout of the Denver Broncos to cap the 1989 season.